Do you remember what initially inspired you to pursue a physical therapy career? When you’re thinking about your next step, of course, you want to find a position that will challenge you without overwhelming you. After all, you need to pay your bills. 

You should also be thinking a few steps ahead. What’s your overall vision for your career? What gives you a sense of purpose? Where do you want to be in five or 10 years? You need a clear idea of where you’re going so you can determine if the positions you’re looking at will accommodate the future you want. 

Your next position doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment. It might be a stepping stone to get you to the next stage of your career. Spend some time considering what’s important to you in the short and long term. What might you be able to sacrifice if it takes you closer to your goal? And what are your deal-breakers? What do you need to keep from burning out?

If you want to work close to home, that may affect the number of available positions and the variety among them. This article outlines nine factors you should consider when looking for physical therapy jobs near you.

What should I keep in mind when looking for physical therapy jobs near me?

When you’re searching for a physical therapy job, you should first consider what kinds of organizations hire PTs in your area and what environment you want to work in. Do you like to work in a familiar clinic environment, or would you rather visit patients in a hospital setting? Are there certain patient groups you love working with? Are there specific conditions and body systems you’re interested in treating? 

There’s more you should consider beyond the content of the job and the work environment. What do you need when it comes to your company culture and your team? What steps do you want to be taking a few years from now, and what kind of position will support those goals? Finally, what are the strengths and weaknesses of your résumé and interview skills? How might that affect your search, and how can you make improvements?

9 factors to consider when looking for physical therapy jobs near you

You may not be able to find all the details about a position in the job posting. However, you should take some time to research the company by looking at its online presence. Read the About page on its website and look through any social media profiles you can find. If you’re still drawing blanks, you can turn these points into questions to ask during an interview.

Some of the points on this list may be more important to you than others. You might want to rank them from most to least important to help with your decision-making process.

Consider these nine factors in your search for a physical therapy job near you:

• What are my values? — This is one of the most important points, as it can help you determine if you’re a good culture fit for an organization. You may be able to read about a company’s values on its website, but you should also look for proof that it’s walking the talk. Make observations during the interview and see if you can get some firsthand accounts from current or past employees.
• What patient groups do I want to work with? — Have you pursued a specialty in treating older patients, women, children or athletes? Or do you want a position where you can gain more experience with a certain group? Many clinics need a variety of expertise on their team, but some will exclusively serve certain population groups, such as a children’s hospital or a nursing home.
• What conditions and body systems do I want to treat? — Do you like working with joints and rehabilitating patients after injuries? Or do you have a passion for reproductive health or early childhood development? Some positions will call for a generalist, and others will have a clear focus on specific health conditions.
• What do I need in my work environment, and what setting will I thrive in? — Your job search might include hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health and school systems. But you should also think about the culture and management style you need to do your best work.
• How far do I want to commute? — Most communities in well-populated areas have several different treatment settings where physical therapists are needed. However, your choices may be more limited if you live in a more rural area. Think about how far you want to commute to narrow your search to the right geographic location. 
• What training and continuing education opportunities do I want? — Are there any gaps in your education that you want to fill? Or new approaches and technology you want to learn? Ask what on-the-job training and continuing education opportunities a prospective employer offers its employees. 
• What advancement opportunities do I want? — Most companies are looking for employees who want to stay and grow with their company. That’s not always the case, though. Spend some time thinking about where you see yourself in the future so you can find out if an available position can take you there.
• How do I expect to collaborate with my team? — How do you expect your teammates to support you, and vice versa? What responsibilities do you like to share with your team, and what do you like to do independently? Interviewers will ask you about your collaboration style, so you should ask about their expectations as well.
• What do I bring to the team? What can I ultimately do for the company? — These are some of the most important interview questions to prepare for. Having a clear idea how you want to contribute may also be a big factor you use in determining whether a position is right for you. If you’re hired, will you get the opportunities you need to make a difference? You should be honest so you can find a team that will appreciate you. But you should also make it clear why the hiring manager should choose you over other candidates.

Take the next step in your physical therapy career at Lattimore PT in New York state

So what do you think, are you finding physical therapy jobs near you that look promising? Or are you broadening your search? Use the ideas in this article to create a short list of your top priorities and questions to answer during the application and interview process. Take some time to identify your strengths and weaknesses as they relate to the position you want. Look through your LinkedIn connections to see if you know anyone with contacts at the companies you want to work for. You may want to try scheduling some informational interviews or ask for a warm introduction.

If you’re looking for PT jobs in New York state, we’d love to hear from you. At Lattimore Physical Therapy created a collaborative and empowering work environment so our employees can help their patients achieve measurable results. We ask all of our team members to take a hands-on approach to problem-solving and helping each other succeed.

Do you think you might be a good fit for the Lattimore team? Upload your résumé and contact information on our Careers page. Best of luck with your job search.